Pedigree segregation analysis was used to examine several one- and two-locus models of the inheritance of phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) taste deficiency that extend the traditional one-locus recessive model by the addition of either another allele or another locus, and in some cases predict two types of nontasters. These models allow nontaster by nontaster matings to produce taster offspring, consi...

Drug development is originally carried out on a trial and error basis and it is cost-prohibitive. To minimize the trial and error risks, drug design is needed. One of the compound development processes to get a new drug is by designing a structure modification of the mother compound whose activities are recognized. A substitution of the mother compounds alters the physicochemical properties: li...

BACKGROUND The ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), a bitter chemical has long been known to be a heritable trait, which is being widely used for both genetic and anthropological studies. The frequency of taster and non-taster allele is found to vary in different populations. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE To investigate the frequency of taster trait in Mysore, South India. MATERIALS AND METHODS...

The study was based on the data of a sample of 400 epileptic patients (200 idiopathic and 200 symptomatic) and 100 normal healthy individuals serving as controls. The PTC threshold distribution was bimodal. The number of non-tasters among idiopathic epileptics (35.5%) and symptomatic epileptics (32.5%) was significantly higher than controls (20%). The relative incidence of non-tasters in idiopa...

Heliothis virescens larval plasma contains high levels of an antiviral activity against the budded form of the Helicoverpa zea single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HzSNPV) in vitro. Preliminary results indicated that phenoloxidase is primarily responsible for this virucidal effect. However it is known that other enzymes that generate antimicrobial reactive oxygen intermediates and reactive nitrogen int...

Immortal cell lines have not yet been reported from Penaeus monodon, which delimits the prospects of investigating the associated viral pathogens especially white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). In this context, a method of developing primary hemocyte culture from this crustacean has been standardized by employing modified double strength Leibovitz-15 (L-15) growth medium supplemented with 2% gluco...

T2R38 belongs to the family of bitter receptors and was initially detected in cells of the oral cavity. We now describe expression of T2R38 in tumor cells in patients with pancreatic cancer and in tumor-derived cell lines. T2R38 is localized predominantly intracellular in association with lipid droplets, particularly with the lipid droplet membrane. The receptor can be activated by the bona fid...

Heliothis virescens larval plasma contains high levels of an antiviral activity against the budded form of the Helicoverpa zea single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HzSNPV) in vitro. Preliminary results indicated that phenoloxidase is primarily responsible for this virucidal effect. However it is known that other enzymes that generate antimicrobial reactive oxygen intermediates and reactive nitrogen int...

Bitter taste receptors (TAS2R proteins) allow mammals to detect and avoid ingestion of toxins in food. Thus, TAS2Rs play an important role in food choice and are subject to complex natural selection pressures. In our previous study, we examined nucleotide variation in TAS2R38, a gene expressing bitter taste receptor for phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), in 333 Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) from 9...